Railway-signal.



No. 646,7l7.

Patented Apr. -3, I900. J. WAYLAND G. H. TAYLOR. RAILWAY SIGNAL.

A umgq filed Au 5, 1899.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

VWIQTNESISES M N VE N TOPS No. 646,7l7.

. Patented Apr. 3', I900. J. WAYLAND &. H. B. TAYLOR.

RAILWAY SIGNAL. (Application filed Aug. 5. 1899.) (No Model.) 2Shaats-$hoet 2.

74 i i4 WITNESSES: '3 INVENTORS "m: NORRIS PETERS to, PHJTQiITNQ,WAS-GNGTOH. u. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WAYLAND AND HERBERT B. TAYLOR, OF NEW'ARK, NEW JERSEY.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPEGIFIGATI ON forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,717, dated April3, 1900. Application filed August 5, 1899. Serial No. 726,232. (Nomodel.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES WAYLAND and HERBERT B. TAYLOR, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex, State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailway-Signals, (Case A,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway-signals, andparticularly to means for operating the signal and for releasing same toenable it to return automatically to the position from which it wasremoved by the operating means; and the object of the invention is toprovide operating and releasing means which shall be rapid and certainin operation.

The invention consists in the combination of devices for this purpose,as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a vertical section of theapparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 3 shows theapplication of the invention to the combined home and distant signal.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the semaphore or signal proper is not shown,as it may be of any usual construction, and ourinvention relates only tomeans for operating same. 1 represents the post of the signal, to whichis secured the frame 2, which serves as the sup port for the deviceshereinafter described. On this support is pivoted the signal-operatinglever 3, which operates the semaphore through a rod 4, pivotallyconnected thereto, said lever being provided with a weight 5 forreturning the signal to danger position. On the pivot-shaft 6 of lever 3is fastened a segment or sector plate 7, to which is secured at 8 oneend of a chain 9, which in the angular movement of the sector winds onand off the circumference of same. Depending from the other end of thischain is a rod 10, sliding in a vertical bearing 12 in the closed end ofa vertical cylinder 11, a piston 13 on the lower end of said rod workingin said cylinder, which thus acts as a dash-pot.

Brackets 14, projecting from the lower part of frame 2, serve to supportpivot-pins 15 15, between which is mounted a shaft 16, adapted to turnfreely between such pivots, the said pivot-pins being screw-threaded, asshown,

and screwing into the brackets 14 14, so as to be capable of adjustmentlongitudinallyof On the shaft 16, and preferably formed integrallytherewith, is a drum or collar 18, adapted to receive a chain 19, whichis fastened thereto and winds thereon at one end,

while its other end is attached to the piston 13 on rod 10, so that asthe shaft 16 turns it will draw the rod 10 downward or allow it toascend, according to the direction of move= ment. On the shaft 16 ismounted a disk shaped armature 20, which is mounted to rotate with theshaft either by being fastened thereon or by a spline connection. Anannular magnet 21 is loosely mounted on the shaft 16 and is adapted toengage frictionally with same. To prevent actual magnetic contactbetween the magnet and armature and to insure smoothness of frictionalbearing, as well as certainty of release of same, we pro videbearing-rings 22 22, of brass or other non-magnetic material, which arefastened on one of such parts and engage with correspondingly-shapedgrooves 23 23 in the other part, the rings being shown as on thearmature and the grooves as formed in the poles of the magnet. Theenergizing-coil 24: of the magnet is inclosed between the core and theouter shell of the magnet and is connected through the collector 25,attached to and rotating with such magnet, and the brushes 26 to thewires 27 27 of a controlling-circuit, such as a track or relay circuit.A wormgear 28 is fast on the annular magnet 21 and preferably formed asan integral peripheral extension of same, this construction giving themaximum strength with the minimum weight.- This worm-gear is engaged bya worm 29 on the shaft 30 of an electric motor 31, which motor issupported on extensions of the bracket 14 14. The circuit of this mo toris controlled by a switch 32, mounted on an insulating-base 33 on frame2 and having terminals 34 35, respectively connected by wires 36 37 withone side of the motor 31 and, with the track or relay wire 27, isconnected to the other side of the motor through wire- 36. This switchis operated by a rod 38, depending from and pivoted to an arm 39 on thepivot-shaft 6.0f the signal-operating lever 3, the rod 38 beingscrew-threaded and provided with nuts 40 4.0, screwing thereon andengaging, respectively, above and below the arm 41 of the switch-lever32, so that when the lever 3 has moved the signal to safety or to dangerthese nuts will throw the switch open or closed.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: Assuming that the partsare in the position shown in the drawings, (the danger position,) withthe rod 10 and piston 13 raised and the switch 32 closed, and that thecontrolling-circuit is closed, the motor will be energized and willdrive the worm and wormgear, thus rotating the annular magnet 21, whilethe energization of this magnet by the current established in its coilthrough the closed switch 32 will cause sufiicient friction between themagnetand armature,or between the engaging rings and grooves thereon, tocause the armature 20, with the shaft 16, to rotate with the magnet, thechain 19 being thereby wound on the drum or collar 18, drawing down thepiston 13, rod 10, and chain 9, thereby turning the lever 3 so as tothrow the signal to safety. This havingbcen effected, the nut 40'engages with arm 41 to open the switch 32 and break the motor-circuit.The circuit of the magnet 21 being independent of switch 32 remainsclosed,and thus the magnet holds its armature in frictional engagementand maintains the signal in safety position as long as thecontrolling-circuit remains operative. When for any reason currentceases to flow in the wires 27 27' of the controlling-circuit, themagnet 21 is de'elnergized and releases its armature 20, which under theinfluence of weight 5, acting through lever 3, rod 10, chain 19, anddrum 18, draws the armature around and returns the apparatus to dangerposition. In this operation the armature is not actually thrown fromcontact with the magnet,or at least not necessarily so,as the diminutionof frictional engagement due to denergization of the magnet suffices toenable the armature to be drawn around relatively to the magnet, asstated. During both of these operations the dash-pot serves to regulatethe movement and to prevent shock.

Our invention is particularly applicable to the operation on a singlepost of two signals, such as home and distant signals controlled bydifierent relay-circuits, but both intended to be moved to safety at thesame time. Fig. 3 shows such an adaptation of the invention, the partsbeing characterized as in Figs. 1 and 2, except that in this case thereare two chains 19 and 19 winding on drums 18 18', which with therigidly-connected armatures 20 20 in this case turn freely on a shaft16, which is fixed in brackets 14. The annular electromagnet is doubleand in effect consists of two magnet 21 21', the poles, both core andshell portions, projecting each way from a central disk, so as to facethe respective disk armatures 2O 20 and to attract one or the other ofsame when the respective coils 24 24: of the magnet are energized. Themagnets being connected at their neutral portions they will bemagnetically independent, although mechanically rigid with each other.The electromagnetic device, comprising two sets of poles and twoenergizing-coils, is adapted to operate in all respects like the annularelectromagnet of Figsl and 2 and is preferably adapted to engage withthe armature by ring-bearings of non-magnetic material,

as explained with reference to said Figs. 1-

and The actuating worm-gear 28 is arranged on the annular magnet-shell,as are also the collector-rings 25 25; but the motor is arranged just asin Fig. 1. From the collector-brushes 26 26, corresponding tomagnet-coil 24 for the upper signal, a controllingcircuit 27 27 runs tothe home or local relaycircuit, which is also connected to the motor 31,as indicated in dotted lines at 36 36', while the other or distantrelay-circuit 4 -14 is connected only with the collector-brushes 26,leading the magnet-coil 24'.

The home signal or semaphore 42 and the distant signal 43 are bothpivoted on post or support 1, the home signal, for example, being abovethe distant signal, and they are connected, respectively, to thesignal-operating arms 3 3 by rods t 4 and returned to danger by weights5 5 in obvious manner. A separate dash-pot 11 or 11 is provided for eachsignal-operating rod.

Upon the operation of the local circuit 27 27' by a train both signalswill be moved to safety, provided both the local circuit and the nextcircuit (the distant circuit) are in operationthat is, provided the lineis clearand if the distant circuit only is blocked then only the homesignal will be operated. After both signals have been set they are freeto return independently to danger under the control of the respectivecontrolling-circuits. The operation of both signals is thereforecontrolled by a single circuit--namely, the local circuit, whichcontrols the motor-while the release of the signals is controlled byindependent circuits.

The electromagnetic clutches employed are continuously in engagingrelation, so that the motor is never thrown out of the possibility ofconnection with either of the signals for a single instant. Thus ifafter one signal has been operated or while it is being operated thecircuit conditions become such that the other signal should operate theapparatus is always in condition to permit of such operation.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railway-Si gnal-operatin g mechanism the combination with thesignal-operating 1ever weighted to return the signal to danger position,of a horizontal shaft, a drum mounted on said shaft so as to turntherewith, a chain connected to and winding around said drum andconnected to ing lever, an annular electromagnet mounted so as to becapable of turning on said shaft, a disk armature for said electromagnetadapted to engage frictionally with said magnet and mounted so as torotate with the drum, a collector attached to the magnet and connectedto its energizing-coil, connections from such collector to acontrolling-circuit, a worm-gear fast on said annular magnet, a wormengaging said worm-gear, and a motor adapted to drive said worm-gear.

2. In a railway-signal-op'erating mechanism, the combination with thesignal-operatin g lever Weighted to return the signal to dangerposition, and a segment connected to said lever, of a horizontal shaftand pivot-pin bearings for same, a drum pinned on said shaft, a chaindevice connected and winding around said drum, and also connected to andWinding around said segment, an annular electromagnet mounted so as tobe capable of turning on said shaft, a disk armature for saidelectromagnet adapted to engage frictionally with said magnet mounted soas to rotate with the drum, a collector attached to the magnet andconnected to its energizingcoil, connections from such collector to acontrolling-circuit, a worm-gear fast on said annular magnet, a wormengaging said wormgear, and amotor adapted to drive said wormgear.

3. In a railWay-signal-operating mechanism, the combination withthesignal-operatin g lever, weigh ted to return the signal to dangerposition, and a segment connected to said lever, of a horizontal drummounted so as to be capable of turning, a chain connected to and windingaround said segment, a rod connected to both of said chains and carryinga piston, a cylinder cooperating with said rod and piston to act as adash-pot, an annular electromagnet mounted so as to be capable ofturning, a disk armature for said electromagnet adapted to engagefrictionally with said magnet and mounted so as to rotate with the drum,a collector attached to the magnet and connected to its energizing-coil,connections from such collector to a controlling-circuit, a

the signal operatworm-gear fast on said annular magnet, a worm engagingsaid worm-gear, and a motor adapted to drive said worm-gear.

4. In a railway-signal-operating mechanism, the combination with thesignal-operat ing lever weighted to return the signal todancontrolling-circuit, mechanical connection from such armature to thesignal-operating lever, a Wormgear fast on the annular electromagnet, aworm engaging with said gear, a motor adapted to drive said worm, and aswitch operated by the movement of the sig nal-operatin g lever andcontrolling the circuit of the motor.

5. In a railway-signal-operating mechan-- ism, the combination with thesignal-operating lever, of an annular electromagnet and a disk armaturemounted to rotate independently of one another, but adapted to engagefrictionally when the magnet is energized, a worm-gear formed integrallywith and surrounding the annular magnet, a worm engaging said worm-gear,a motor adapted to drive said worm, connections from the saidelectromagnet to a controlling-circuit, and a mechanical connection fromthe armature to the signal-operating lever.

6. In a signal mechanism the combination of a signal-operating motor,two signals, controllingcircuits for each signal, magneticfriction-clutches operated by the motor and so arranged as to becontinuously in position for engagement with signal parts in allpositions thereof, and adapted to move or release one or both signalsinstantaneously when the controlling-circuits are energized ordeenergized.

7 The combination of two signals, two disk armatures adapted to rotateand mechanically connected to the respective signals, an annularelectromagnet device comprising two coils and two sets of poles forattracting the said armatures and adapted to engage with same, a motorconnected to rotate said annular magnetic device, and twocontrolling-circuits, one connected to said motor and to one of themagnet-coils, while the other circuit is connected to the othermagnet-coil.

JAMES WAYLAND. HERBERT B. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

J. GREEN, ARTHUR P. KNIGHT.

